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Seine Scheldt Flanders is the largest inland shipping project in Europe. Why investment and innovation in this is important? Inland shipping is cheap, reliable, sustainable and it is growing full steam ahead. With these benefits and strengths, water transport offers a solution to the increasing congestion problem on our roads. In fact, a ship of 4,500 tonnes replaces 220 trucks on the road.
To provide smooth passage for these container vessels and push Seine Scheldt Flanders is more than simply an investment barges, we are improving the link between the Seine and the in better infrastructure. Stimulating life on and along the Scheldt. That is to say we are ensuring economic growth and waterway, implementing sustainable solutions and creating a employment in the heart of Europe. pleasant environment – those are our commitments.
Co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union SEINE SCHELDT FLANDERS IMPROVING INLAND NAVIGATION A modernized connection between the Seine and the Scheldt That is why we are providing passing lanes in certain places and ensures that inland vessels with a loading capacity up to 4,500 modifying bends and turning basins. Finally, we are increasing tonnes, and with three layers of containers will be able to throughput capacity by renovating and expanding existing complete their passage quickly. Larger vessels naturally require transhipment platforms. adapted infrastructure. That's why we are increasing bridge RECREATIONAL ASSET heights and making the locks larger. In view of the fact that these We are paying ever-increasing attention to recreation on and Where possible, we are completing and renovating the towpaths. vessels have greater cargo capacity and therefore lie deeper in Each ship makes up for 220 trucks along the water, so that everyone can enjoy the waterways and We are providing bridges for pedestrian and cycle traffic in some the water, we are also expanding the dimensions of the existing their surroundings. After all, the waterways do not only offer an places and building jetties for pleasure and passenger vessels. waterway. It is also important that these vessels can cross or pass that would be in our traffic jams! excellent alternative to road transport, they are also ideal for each other and turn easily. relaxation or being active. To ensure implementation of these We are also providing protection for boats moored in the improvements, we are working closely with municipal and city marinas against large ships passing through. And we are offering authorities, the provinces and local stakeholders. dedicated fishing areas at some locations for fishing enthusiasts. Class of vessel Vb (4,500 tonnes) 220 trucks INTENSIVE CITY RENEWAL INVESTING IN RIVER RESTORATION Many waterways pass through town and city centres. Centuries the water. To do that, we work closely with city or municipal As a waterway manager, we also consider life on and along the We are also building fish passages, so that they can swim ago, that made the water ideal for trade. Over the course of time, administrations. We take account of numerous factors such water very important, and that is why we are also investing in smoothly from one water level to another. Fauna exits also many cities and municipalities turned their attention away from as the historical context and heritage, as well as the desired river restoration. Through the course of history, much of the ensure that animals can get out of the water easily and banks the water but they are currently rediscovering the advantages interpretation of open and public space. With urban renewal natural backbone of our rivers and canals has been lost. Today, are being modified to offer typical local fauna and flora even and possibilities it offers. This is giving rivers and canals a central projects, we are bringing the water closer to the people again. we want to restore this nature. As part of this, we will reconnect more opportunities. role in town and city centres once again. We often take this old meanders of Leie to the river and possibly deepen them. opportunity to also give a facelift to the environment around We are also committed to creating an ecological network of natural wetlands along the Leie, e.g. wet pasture, swamps, pond and marsh zones, flood-meadows, etc. ON BOARD AND SPEAKING OUT! SEINE SCHELDE: AT HOME IN EUROPE Seine Scheldt Flanders is actually a piece in the puzzle that makes up a much Amsterdam larger whole: the European Seine Scheldt The Netherlands project. Flanders, Wallonia and France England are working with the European Union and Rotterdam London putting great effort into this cross-border inland shipping project. Constructive and Zeebrugge Antwerp collective! That makes Seine Scheldt the “Our café has been isolated from the outside world “The most beautiful and sustainable realization “Our main route is the one from Menen to Ghent, Dunkirk largest infrastructure project for inland for a long time, because of the city-centre works of my career was without a doubt the pedestrian so the works carried out by De Vlaamse Waterweg Ghent Germany shipping anywhere in Europe. on the bridge. But what we initially feared has not and cycle bridge over the Upper Scheldt – the nv on the Leie have a major impact on us. It now Brussels Cologne Lille Belgium turned out to be bad in practice. Residents living missing link in the EuroVéloroute no 5. This project allows us to sail much quicker through the new, Liège Europe has around 40,000 kilometres of close to the works have had the opportunity to involves building bridges, both literally and larger lock in Harelbeke. And that is important, Charleroi navigable waterways. With Seine Scheldt, enjoy a unique on-site tour with people from figuratively, across local political, provincial, because size does matter in our sector! We hope Cambrai we are improving about 1,100 kilometres De Vlaamse Waterweg nv. We are already looking linguistic and national borders. It took eight years that we can sail to and from our hub in Ghent in in total. The project's centre of gravity New canal forward to seeing the fine-looking construction from conceiving the idea to cutting the ribbon to the future with even larger push barges and inland Le Havre to be made France lies in France. A brand-new canal is Rouen Luxembourg being constructed, which will run for that the new bridge will be when it is finished. open it, but the fruits we reap from this project vessels. With our push barge Galloo I, we replace Compiègne 107 kilometres between Compiègne and It will not only be good for freight traffic on the will last many more years than that. The same 5,000 trucks on the road annually but that can Maritime port Cambrai, the canal Seine-Nord Europe. canal, but also for our neighbourhood." applies for the works needed to allow access for still be many more.
Inland port shipping along the Bossuit–Kortrijk canal. Paris This leads me to argue that we must have Navigable waterways With Seine Scheldt, the European Union is striving for balanced organization of the courage to invest in projects that only pay freight transport by road, water, rail and ownerJean-Pierre of café De Fagot inDeven, Ingelmunster off in the long term." CEORik Galloo Debaere, in Ghent/Menen air. That is why the EU developed the (Roeselare–Leie canal) (River Leie) The entire project must be completed in Flanders, Wallonia and France by 2030. TEN-T grant programme, which stands for 'Trans-European Network for Transport '.
Mayor ofLieven Avelgem Vantieghem, for twenty-four years (Bossuit–Kortrijk canal, Upper Scheldt) 9820 Merelbeke Guldensporenpark 105 West Regiondepartment De Vlaamse Waterweg nv [email protected] 09 29212 11 ALL ABOARD SEINE SCHELDT FLANDERS INLAND SHIPPING LINK WITH PARIS INVESTING IN A SMOOTH #seinescheldt www.seineschelde.be
Pub.: Lieven Dejonckheere, De Vlaamse Waterweg nv, West Region department, Guldensporenpark 105, 9820 Merelbeke. Publication number: D/2020/12.546/407